Steam and gas generating apparatus.



No, 677,878. Patented July 9, mm.

.1. c. MERRILL. STEAM AND GAS GENERATING APPARATUS.

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Patented July 9, I90l.

J. C. MERRILL.

STEAM AND GAS'GENERATING APPARATUS.

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- UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFIQE.

JOHN C. MERRILL, OF WESTPHALIA, KANSAS.

STEAM AND GAS GENERATING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 677,878, dated July 9,1901.

Application filed April 24,1900. Renewed December 13, 1900. Serial No.39,768. (No model.)

To all zuhom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN C. MERRILL,a citizen of the United States,residing at Westphalia, in the county of Anderson and State of Kansas,have invented a new and useful Steam and Gas Generating Apparatus, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved combined steam and gas generating apparatus,the object of my invention being to combine with a steam generatingapparatus and engine a gas-generating apparatus in which theexhaust-steam from the engine is returned to the boiler, in which steamfrom the boiler may be utilized to circulate through a hydrocarbon-tankto raise the temperature of the hydrocarbon and vaporize the same forthe production of gas, which is partly used for generating steam in theboiler and may be also utilized for lighting and heating purposesgenerally.

My invention consists in the peculiar construction and combination tdevices hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic verticalsectional elevation of a combined steam and gas generating apparatusembodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same on ahorizontal plane. Fig. 3 shows the weighted checkvalves adjustable ongraduated arms.

The boiler 1, which is here shown as of the vertical type, but which maybe of the horizontal type, if preferred, is provided at its upper andlower ends with steam-chambers 2 3, which communicate with each otherthrough a series of tubes 4, which extend through the boiler. Awater-tank 5 is similarly provided with steam chambers 6 7, whichcommunicate with each other through tubes 8. A gas-generating tank 9 isalso similarly constructed, having steam-chambers 10 11, whichcommunicate with 7 each other through a series of tubes 12 -Ahydrocarbon-tank 13 communicates with the said gas-generator throughpipes 14 15 near the upper and lower ends of the gas-generator. Asuitable valve 15 is in the pipe 14, and a suitable valve 16 is in thepipe 15.

A pipe 17 establishes communication between the water-tank 5 and boiler1, near the 28. chamber 3 of the boiler to the lower steamupper endsthereof, and is provided with a valve 18. Said water-tank and boiler arealso connected together at a suitable point below the water-line by apipe 19,which has avalve 20. The respective steam-chambers 2 6 of theboiler and water-tank communicate with each other through a pipe 21,having a valve 22, and the respective steam-chambers 3 7 of said boilerand water-tank communicate with each other through a pipe 23, having avalve 24. A pipe leads from the steam-chamber 2 of the boiler to thesteam-chamber 10 of the gasgenerator and is provided with valves 26 27 Apipe 29 leads from the lower steamchamber 11 of the gas-generator and isprovided with weighted check-valves 32 33, the weights on which areadjustable on graduated arms, as shown. (See Fig. 3.) A pipe 34 leadsfrom the pipe 29 to the water-space of the boiler. A pipe 35 leads fromthe steam space of the boiler to an engine, (illustrateddiagrammatically at 3.6,) with which communi cates an exhaust-chamber37,which is in communication with the pipe 29 through a pipe 38 and'isprovided with a vent or blow-0ft cook 39. An injector 38 is interposedin the coupling between the pipes 38 34 29, and pipes 29 38 areconnected together by a valved tube 54. A check-valve 55 is located inpipe 38. A steam-pump 40 is operated by the engine and is provided atopposite ends of itscylinder on opposite sides of its piston with valvedpassages 41 42 43 44. Pipes 45 46 respectively connect theexhaustchamber 37 with the valved passage 41 and the valved passage 42with the pipe 25 at a point between the valves 26 28, and similar pipes47 48 respectively connect said exhaust-chamber 37 with the valvedpassage 43 and the valved passage 44 with the pipe 25 at a point betweenthe Valves 26 27. A gas-service pipe leads from the upper portion of thegas-generator and conducts to suitable burners and alsoleads to burners49 50,which are located, respectively, under the boiler 1 and thewater-tank 5. The pipe 35 has the usual throttle-valve 51.

The operation of my invention is as follows: Assuming steam to have beengenerated in the boiler and communication to have been cut off betweenthe latter and the water-tank and the gas-generator, the throttle-valve51 being open, the engine 36 is started in operation for the developmentof power to be utilized for any purpose. The exhaust-steam from theengine passes into the exhaust-chamber 37, and the pump 40 being assumedto be in operation the exhaust-steam is forced thereby to thesteam-chambers 2 3 of the boiler through the pipe 48 and compressedtherein to any desired degree, thereby raising the temperature of theWater in the boiler, and hence the pressure of the steam generatedtherein. When the pressure of the exhauststeam in the communicatingsteam-chambers 2 3 reaches the desired degree, the weighted valve 32opens and the said pressure is relieved bypassing through the pipe 34into the boiler through the operation of the injector 38". If the valve27 is open, the exhaust-steam passes through the steam-chambers and thepipes 12, respectively, in the gas-generator, thereby heating the bodyof hydrocarbon contained in the latter and vaporizing the same, the gaspassing therefrom through the gasservice pipe 48 and a portion thereofbeing tion of steam in the, boiler and the heating of water in theWater-tank 5. Vteighted valve 33 readmits the exhaust-steam when thesame is at the desired pressure from the steamchambers of thegasenerating tankto the body of the boiler through the operation of theinjector, as before'described in connecof hydrocarbon to supply thegas-generator,

as will be understood. When the pump is in operation and the valve 28open and the valve 26, closed, the pump serves to force theexhaust-steam through the steam-chambers and tubes both of thegas-generator and of the boiler.

A horizontally-disposed pipe 52,- located at the Water-level in theboiler, is provided with a series of openings 52*" in communication Withthe interior of the boiler, and the said pipe passes outward through theshell of the boiler and is provided with a blow-off cool: 53, thusproviding for the discharge of foam and preventing the boiler fromfoaming.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a steam-power and gasgenerating apparatus, the combination with a steam-boiler andgas-generating tank, each provided with communicating steam-chambers, ofan engine and means to supply said steam-chambers with exhaust-steam andcompress the same therein, substantially as described.

2. In a steam-power and gas generatin g apparatus, the combination witha steam-boiler and gas-generating tank, each provided withvcommunicating steam-chambers, of an engine and means to supply saidsteam-chambers with exhaust-steam and compress the same therein, andmeans to return the exhaust-steam to the boiler, substantially asdescribed. utilized at the burners 49 50 for the genera- 3. In asteam-power and gas generating apparatus, the combination with asteam-boiler and gas-generating tank, each provided with communicatingsteam-chambers, of an engine to supply said steam-chambers withexhaust-steam and means to cause said exhauststeam to circulate throughsaid steam-chambers, steam-boiler and gas-generator, for the purpose setforth, substantially as described.

4. A steam-boiler having communicating steam-chambers, in combinationwith an en gine and means to supply said chambers with exhaust-steam andcompress the same therein, substantially as described.

5. A steam-boiler having a chamber for. exhaust-steam, and means tosupply said chamber with exhaust-steam and compress the same therein,substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN G. MERRILL.

\Vitnesses:

J. M. CLARK, J. E. STEPHENSON.-

